Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, took part in the interfaith forum "Prayer for Peace" in the Italian city of Assisi from October 25 to 27, 2026.
The annual meeting, organized by the Catholic Community of St. Egidius, was held under the title "A disarmed and disarming world." The greeting of Italian President Sergio Mattarella was read out at the opening. Representatives of religious communities addressed the audience, after which the work continued in thematic sections.
On the sidelines of the forum, Metropolitan Anthony met with Archbishop John of Tirana and All Albania, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Ava III, and representatives of the Patriarchates of Antioch and Romania. Meetings were also held with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, founder of the Community of St. Egidius Andrea Riccardi and Moderator of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strom.
The forum ended on October 27 in the square in front of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. During the closing ceremony, a video message from Pope Leo XIV was played.